Corbin Burnes threw his last warmup pitch, stepped off the mound, turned his back to home plate and settled into a crouch before his catcher could do it. With his head lowered, he chose a crowded venue to hold a private moment.

Burnes finally stood, faced home plate and owned it again.

This is why the Orioles traded for him. To start on Opening Day and in Game 1 of a playoff series, in this instance the Wild Card round. To be that guy. But he can’t score runs for himself.

Bobby Witt Jr. singled with two outs in the sixth inning to produce the first lead of the day, and the Orioles were silenced by Cole Ragans and three relievers in a deflating 1-0 loss today before an announced crowd of 41,506 at Camden Yards.

The playoff losing streak has reached nine games dating back to the Royals’ sweep in the 2014 Championship Series. They need to win Wednesday afternoon with Zach Eflin starting or be shut down again.

Ryan O’Hearn is treating today like it’s the first game of the Wild Card round. He’s being literal. He denies any motivation to get back at the Royals, who drafted him in 2014 and kept him in the majors for five seasons before the cash considerations trade with the Orioles in January 2023.

That’s his story, and he’s playfully sticking to it.

“Obviously you want to win every playoff game and every game you play,” he said this morning at his media session. “There's really no, like, revenge in my mind.”

Then came the slight pause and the kicker.

“You know,” he added, “even if there was, I wouldn't tell you guys.”

The High-A Aberdeen IronBirds will operate under different ownership in 2025.

Cal Ripken Jr., 64. has sold his majority stake in the Orioles’ affiliate. However, the Hall of Famer and brother Bill, a former major league infielder and current MLB Network analyst, will remain part of the ownership group.

Attain Sports, led by minor league baseball operator and business leader Greg Baroni, is partnering with the Ripkens by acquiring controlling interest in IB Professional Holdings. The company also owns the Double-A Bowie Baysox and MLB Draft League Frederick Keys.

Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. Attain Sports sent out a press release.

“Bill and I are proud of what we have been able to bring to our hometown,” Ripken said in a statement. “Since 2002, through the IronBirds and our Ripken Experience Aberdeen youth baseball complex, we have been able to provide wonderful experiences for baseball fans of all ages. At this stage of my life, I thought the timing was right to turn over the day-to-day management of the IronBirds to Greg. I am thrilled that we can partner with such well-respected operators like Greg and Attain Sports.”

The start of the 2023 postseason for the Orioles included the shocking news that John Means wouldn’t make the Division Series roster due to elbow soreness that followed his appearance in an intrasquad game at Camden Yards. The club didn’t share anything of that magnitude this morning, but the inclusion of Colin Selby in the bullpen came as a surprise.

Selby was chosen over Matt Bowman. Albert Suárez wasn’t going to make it after working six innings Sunday in Minnesota.

Explaining the Selby move, manager Brandon Hyde said, “We just felt Selby in a couple games he’s thrown for us showed really, really good stuff. And just from a matchup standpoint, wanted an extra right-hander in the bullpen. He’s got a 97 mph fastball and a really good slider, so we’re excited to add him.”

The Game 2 starter remains a mystery, and it appears that what happens later today might dictate the choice.

Where is Hyde on the Game 2 starter?

The Orioles are carrying 12 pitchers and 14 position players for the Wild Card series against the Royals that begins this afternoon at soggy Camden Yards.

Albert Suárez threw six innings on Sunday and was dropped from the roster until perhaps getting a start in the Division Series if the Orioles can advance. Rookie Cade Povich made it, giving the Orioles five left-handers in a nine-man bullpen.

The big surprise is Colin Selby making it over Matt Bowman after the Orioles recalled him Sunday. Selby has made three appearances. Bowman made 15, including a start as the opener, and posted a 3.45 ERA in 15 2/3 innings.

The 14 position players who ended the regular season have remained with the club for the first round of the playoffs. The Orioles kept infielder Emmanuel Rivera and outfielder Heston Kjerstad. A 13-13 split likely would have removed one of them.

The Game 2 starter apparently is dependent on the Game 1 outcome. Corbin Burnes is on the mound this afternoon.

The Orioles returned to the visiting clubhouse Sunday at Target Field and still didn’t know their opponent for the Wild Card series that begins this afternoon at Camden Yards. The Royals were winning in the ninth inning. The Tigers were losing in the ninth inning. The drama was high for anyone paying attention to it.

The interest from players was low. Every television was tuned to the NFL. They punted on watching baseball.

“Whoever shows up,” shortstop Gunnar Henderson said yesterday, “just go out there and continue to play our game.”

They got the Royals.

“We weren’t too worried about who it would be in the sense,” Henderson said. “Just got to know that we’ve got to go out there and continue to play. It’s postseason, so anything can happen, and they’re two outstanding teams. So we’re just going out there and trying to play the best ball that we can play.”

The Orioles must set their Wild Card roster by 10 a.m. Tuesday morning and they have more meetings to conduct. They’re talking about the composition of it heading into Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Royals at Camden Yards, as well as the identities of the next two starters.

Nothing came out of today’s media sessions that offered any hints.

“We’re gonna keep talking about it today,” said manager Brandon Hyde.

Corbin Burnes is confirmed for Game 1, but the club hasn’t committed to Zach Eflin for Wednesday afternoon’s Game 2. What happens Tuesday might influence the decision.

“It could,” Hyde said. “We’re going through every scenario, just kind of covering all the bases on it. Seeing a little bit how Game 1 goes, seeing how deep Burnsie goes, all those type of things."

MINNEAPOLIS – Orioles pitching coach Drew French says he “fancies himself” as an optimist. That’s just the way he’s built. He grabs the silver linings while hunting for gold. But limits are real, and the number of significant injuries and second-half losses could darken anyone’s sunny disposition.

The rotation was battered beyond recognition with Kyle Bradish, John Means and Tyler Wells undergoing elbow surgeries and Grayson Rodriguez twice landing on the injured list and being shut down in September. Reliever Danny Coulombe missed three months following his own elbow procedure and Jacob Webb was sidelined with elbow inflammation.

A pitch smashed into second baseman Jordan Westburg’s right hand and fractured it. Infielder Ramón Urías was the club’s hottest hitter until rolling his ankle a month later. Infielder Jorge Mateo won’t play until 2025 due to reconstructive elbow surgery.

It’s fair to question how much one man or one team can endure.

Could French honestly have envisioned a home Wild Card if told back in February that the Orioles would go through this kind of trauma?

MINNEAPOLIS – The Orioles finally know their opponent for the Wild Card series. The preparation will get a lot easier.

The Royals clinched the No. 5 seed and will come to Camden Yards for Tuesday’s Game 1, setting up a rematch of the 2014 Championship Series that began the Orioles' eight-game playoff losing streak. Left-hander Cole Ragans will start. The Tigers did the unthinkable and lost to the White Sox again.

The Orioles must finalize their roster and Albert Suarez’s presumed spot might have closed. He wasn’t shortened today in his start, throwing 71 pitches in six innings in a 6-2 victory over the Twins at Target Field.

Rookie left-hander Cade Povich is making it, according to a source, and Suárez could be held back until the Division Series. The Orioles can wait until Tuesday morning to submit their roster.

Suárez could start Game 1 of the ALDS on an extra day of rest if the Orioles advance. Their plans for him aren’t confirmed but seemed to gain clarity.

MINNEAPOLIS – The Orioles recalled reliever Colin Selby this morning and designated left-hander Tucker Davidson for assignment after he tossed 4 2/3 scoreless innings last night.

Selby is another fresh arm for the bullpen, with manager Brandon Hyde prepping his other relievers for availability in Game 1 of Tuesday’s Wild Card game.

Selby appeared in two games with the Orioles in August and didn’t allow a run or hit in three innings. He struck out four batters.

The Orioles haven’t committed to their Game 2 starter.

Albert Suárez gets today’s start, with uncertainty over how long he’ll pitch. Hyde was non-committal yesterday about possibly shortening Suárez.

MINNEAPOLIS – Another Wild Card roster meeting will be held when the Orioles return home. They must decide whether to carry 12 pitchers again, as they did in last year’s Division Series.

“I think everything’s on the table right now,” said manager Brandon Hyde.

The Orioles will host the Tigers or Royals. The seedings will be set later today. And they finally can begin clearing the table.

By optioning reliever Bryan Baker yesterday to the spring complex, the Orioles won’t have him available unless they reach the Championship Series. That’s one of the differences from last fall’s ALDS roster.

Baker was added to it after finishing his season with Triple-A Norfolk. Among the omitted were Cole Irvin, Shintaro Fujinami and Mike Baumann. Baker made one appearance against the Rangers, walked the bases loaded in the third inning of Game 2 and was charged with three runs when Mitch Garver homered off Jacob Webb.

MINNEAPOLIS – Matt Bowman jogged from the bullpen to the mound to begin warming tonight, keeping him in a familiar routine except for the inning. He isn’t accustomed to pitching in the first. He doesn’t normally face a leadoff hitter.

The Orioles used an opener. Tucker Davidson arrived for bulk relief work. They batted Jackson Holliday atop the order and started him at shortstop. A handful of regulars rested on the bench, only the third time for Gunnar Henderson. The perks of clinching a playoff seeding were flaunted.

Bowman struck out two batters in 1 1/3 scoreless innings and Davidson shut out the Twins over 4 2/3. Ryan O’Hearn and Emmanuel Rivera belted two-run homers off rookie Zebby Matthews and Rivera launched a solo shot off reliever Louie Varland. The Orioles secured the home Wild Card but they didn’t fold, powering past the sagging Twins 9-2 before an announced crowd of 30,558 brave souls at Target Field.

Bowman allowed one hit and threw 19 pitches in his first major league start, and first at any level since 2015 with Triple-A Las Vegas. Davidson, whose contract was selected earlier today, followed him and surrendered four ground ball hits.

"That was nice," manager Brandon Hyde said of Davidson. "He’s pitched in some big games in his career, and had a nice year in Triple-A. Awesome to see him get an opportunity and take full advantage of it tonight.”

MINNEAPOLIS – Orioles manager Brandon Hyde has made it official. Corbin Burnes will start Game 1 of the Wild Card game Tuesday at Camden Yards.

Burnes was the logical choice, of course,  and Hyde already talked about shortening his outing at Yankee Stadium because he’d be on regular rest on his next turn. Burnes was ticketed for Opening Day and Game 1 starts as soon as the Orioles acquired him from the Brewers over the winter for DL Hall and Joey Ortiz.

The rest of the playoff rotation wasn’t shared today. Hyde said he’d only announce Burnes, but Zach Eflin is expected to pitch Wednesday and Dean Kremer in Game 3 if necessary.

The opponent and times aren’t determined. The Tigers lost today and hold a half-game lead over the Royals for the fifth seeding. Kansas City owns the tie-breaker.

Burnes made playoff appearances with the Brewers but only two starts. He’s allowed six runs and 11 hits with six walks and 22 strikeouts in 19 innings.

MINNEAPOLIS – Jackson Holliday is making his first major league start at shortstop tonight against the Twins.

This is the “already clinched” lineup.

Gunnar Henderson, Colton Cowser, Cedric Mullins and Jordan Westburg are sitting.

Ramón Urías is playing second base. Emmanuel Rivera is at third. Austin Slater is the center fielder.

Adley Rutschman is catching Matt Bowman, who’s the opener.

MINNEAPOLIS – The Orioles are going with Matt Bowman as an opener for tonight’s game against the Twins at Target Field.

Bowman has made 210 appearances in the majors with zero starts. He’s started 71 games in the minors, most recently with Triple-A Las Vegas in 2015.

Bowman has registered a 3.77 ERA and 1.395 WHIP in 14 games this season. He’s allowed five runs and six hits in his last two appearances over 1 1/3 innings, surrendering a three-run homer to Aaron Judge and a solo shot to Alex Verdugo.

The Orioles selected left-hander Tucker Davidson’s contract from Triple-A Norfolk earlier today and he could provide bulk relief behind Bowman. He’s wearing No. 67.

Reliever Bryan Baker was optioned to the spring training complex, leaving him ineligible for the Wild Card and Division Series.

MINNEAPOLIS – Keegan Akin didn’t make last year’s Division Series roster. He didn’t stand a chance.

A lower-back injury ended Akin’s season on June 28. He allowed 10 earned runs and 13 total in four innings over his last four appearances, an ugly stretch by any measurement.

The Orioles are meeting to discuss their roster for the upcoming Wild Card series and Akin’s spot is secure. He’s healthy and having the finest season of his career. He’s just doing it quietly.

More people should be talking about this guy.

Akin’s 65 appearances rank second to Yennier Cano’s 69 and are 20 more than his previous high in 2022. He’s registered a 3.13 ERA and 0.927 WHIP, the best of his five seasons in the majors, and he’s struck out 96 batters in 77 2/3 innings.

MINNEAPOLIS – Never mind that the Tigers refused to lose again tonight, still behaving like a team determined to run the table. The Orioles used their own tools to nail down the home Wild Card.

Ryan O’Hearn hit his first home run since Aug. 27, Cade Povich twirled 5 2/3 scoreless innings and the Orioles pulled away from the Twins for a 7-2 victory at Target Field.

Game 1 of the best-of-three Wild Card Series will be played at Camden Yards, with the opponent and time to be determined. It’s finally done.

The Orioles can adjust their rotation this weekend and rest some regulars. They can schedule their Monday workout. The only reason to check the out-of-town scoreboard is curiosity or boredom.

“We’re disappointed that we didn’t win the division but to get home field through the Wild Card is huge," said manager Brandon Hyde. "We’re gonna be pumped to play in front of our fans. We know there’s gonna be a lot of energy and excitement in the ballpark and our guys are really looking forward to that.”

MINNEAPOLIS – As injuries and hitting slumps dragged the Orioles out of first place and shifted their priorities to clinching the first Wild Card, bench coach Fredi González could feel manager Brandon Hyde’s pain.

González guided the Braves to the playoffs in 2012 and 2013, but after his 2011 club held an 81-55 record on Sept. 1 and lost 15 of its next 23 games. Starters Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens, the latter a National League All-Star, were sidelined by injuries and the bats went cold, and the Braves were eliminated on the final day.

The subject of brutal stretches was bound to come up between the two men.

“We’ve had conversations with that,” González said. “He asked me, ‘Have you ever seen anything like this before?’ I turned around and said, ‘You remember 2011 when I was going through the same thing in Atlanta?’ And he goes, ‘What would you do? What did you do different?’ And we talked a little bit about that.”

The advice was relatively simple but hugely important. Be the same guy because 26 players are watching you.

MINNEAPOLIS – Here we go again.

An Orioles win tonight clinches the home Wild Card, or they’d need the Tigers to lose to the White Sox.

Ryan O’Hearn is the designated hitter with Ryan Mountcastle at first base. Jordan Westburg gets another start at second base, and he’s batting second.

Cade Povich is making his first career appearance against the team that drafted him in 2021. He’s posted a 3.27 ERA and 0.955 WHIP this month in four starts totaling 22 innings, and he’s struck out 30 batters. Opponents are batting .175/.241/.363.

Twenty-six of Anthony Santander’s 77 hits on the road this season are home runs (33.8 percent), the highest percentage by an Oriole with a minimum 75 hits since Brady Anderson’s 35.2 in 1996 per STATS.

NEW YORK – Talk of a miraculous run to a division title was muted last night at Yankee Stadium. The Orioles are geared toward clinching the home Wild Card. That’s always been the more realistic outcome.

They flew to Minneapolis last night for the last three games of the regular season, returning to Target Field after sweeping the series last year by a combined score of 24-5. It’s a weird finish line, marking one ending but also the start of something much bigger.

A chance to roll those dice in October and perhaps bring Baltimore its first championship since 1983.

The season keeps evolving. The Orioles were 57-33 on July 7, with a tremendous knack for brushing off injuries like shoulder lint. They lost five of their last six games before the break and were 28-32 in the second half before arriving at Yankee Stadium and taking two of three.

Look at them now. As healthy as they’re gonna get with Jordan Westburg, Ramón Urías and Ryan Mountcastle back in the lineup, Danny Coulombe and Jacob Webb back in the bullpen, and Grayson Rodriguez shut down. There’s no one else to wait for. This is it.